Rather than buy plastic-wrapped or expensive custom-made wedding cakes, try these recipes for ones made from plant-based ingredients, no palm oil or refined sugar and no plastic packaging. This vegan pink cake with champagne frosting (Rainbow Nourishments) is surprisingly simple to make, with just a few ingredients. It’s paired with strawberry jam and vegan ‘buttercream’.
If used, choose palm-oil-free vegan butter. Avoid choking hazards (nuts, cherries etc) for young children, and keep recipes away from pets due to unsafe ingredients (chocolate, caffeine, citrus, nutmeg, dried fruits, fresh dough etc). Read more on keeping people & pets safe in the kitchen.
One area also to be aware of these days is what you bake with. Green bakers are moving away from non-stick Teflon sheets, aluminium foil and chemical-coated baking paper, and instead using reusable silicone baking sheets and cupcake trays, which last for years, then are easily recycled.
Easy Vegan Vanilla Cake (The Curious Chickpea) is the perfect sweet treat for any kind of special occasion, with a lovely creamy frosting.
Vegan Vanilla Cake (Addicted to Dates) is a recipe by a classically-trained Irish baker. It only requires a few ingredients, and you can add your own touches with different plant-based fillings and frostings.
where to buy plant-based wedding cakes
Rubys of London is one of England’s finest artisan vegan bakeries, everything is made with organic ingredients (free from palm oil) and delivered to anywhere in the city. Use a letterbox guard around animal friends. This baker began at Greenwich Market and today her goods are sold throughout the city (there’s also a shop in Tunbridge Wells, Kent). The range includes:
- Cakes
- Donuts
- Cupcakes
- Brownies
- Wedding cakes
- Corporate gifts
The cakes and other goodies are also available wholesale to bakeries, hotels and other outlets. Just get in touch! The bakery is pretty allergy-friendly but some ingredients may have been produced elsewhere, so check before ordering. Cakes are best eaten fresh or the day after, and can be frozen, but best before 3 months.
If you have a friend or relative that cooks, they may wish to cook as it’s cheaper than hiring caterers, but they’ll have to follow food hygiene laws and know of allergies. If catering for more than a pile of plates can provide, use biodegradable plates and cutlery, over plastic. You can then just compost after use.
